Bromo-lecithin and process of making same.



UNITED STATES PATENT @PFICE.

PETER BERGELL, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO ACTIEN GESELL- SCHAFT FIIR ANILIN FABRIKATION, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.-

BROMO-LECITHIN AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7, 1905.

Application filed July 28, 1904. Serial No. 2l8.534. (Specimeua) To allwhmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER BERGELL, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia,German Empire, have invented new and useful Improvements inBromo-Lecithin and Process for Its Manufacture; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to the manufacture of new halogen derivatives oflecithin, which may be obtained by treating lecithin, pref erably in achloroformic solution, with bromin. These new compounds are of greatvalue for threapeuticalpurposes because they combine the effect ofbromin as a tonic remedy with that of lecithin as a nutritivepreparation, the more so as the bromin derivatives, unlike lecithinitself, are not easily changed by the action of the digestive organs, sothat the greater part of the bromo-lecithin is resorbed as such and notin the form of the products of its decomposition. In using these newhalogen derivatives as medicine the a proximate dose should be 0.1 gramsevera times a day.

I have found that the different commercial lecithins show a differentcapacity for absorbing or being incorporated with bromin, so that thehighest proportion of bromin absorbed is about fifty per cent. of theweight of the lecithin.

In order to carry out my process practically, I can, for instance,proceed as follows, the parts being by weight: A solution of ten partslecithin derived from the yolk of eggs in fifty parts of chloroform istreated with about two and one-half parts of bromin. The temperature ofthe mixture is preferably kept below 30 centigrade by cooling, theprocess producing heat and a higher temperature,

changing the yield and the properties of the resulting product. Theproduct of the reaction is allowed to stand for a short time and thendried under vacuum. The bromolecithin thus obtained represents a nearlycolorless mass resembling wax, soluble in chloroform, alcohol, andether, sparely soluble in acetone, hardly soluble in water, being easilysaponified when heated with alcoholic soda-lye. It melts above 100centigrade with decomposition.

The underlying principle of the invention having been set forth in theabove description, it is obvious that the proportions of the ingredientsused may be altered within certain limits without deviating from theprin ciple of this invention, as I have stated above that differentkinds of lecithin show a different capacity for absorbing bromin.Further, more, the result of my process is not materially changed if thetreating with bromin is carried out without addition of a solvent.

Now what I claim is 1. The process of manufacturing bromolecithin whichconsists in treating lecithin with bromin at a moderate temperature.

2. The new bromo-lecithin being a nearly colorless mass, resembling wax,soluble in chloroform, alcohol and ether, sparely soluble in acetone,hardly soluble in water, being easily saponified when heated withalcoholic soda-lye and which is split up less readily than lecithin bythe action of the digestive organs of the human body.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 8th day of July,1904, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PETER BERGELL.

Witnesses HENRY HAsPER, WOLDEMAR HAUPT.

